"It has been an emotional journey," he said. "It has been a physical journey to get back on my feet."

Officer Beccera has been with SAPD for four years, and he won't forget the day in July when he nearly lost his life.

"I was shot in the abdomen in the stomach during a burglary call," he said.

Officer Becerra was shot twice in the stomach and leg after a home invasion.

"My partner was there to save my life," he said. "It has been a long journey to recover from it. I am still recovering from it today. I am happy to be alive to be here, and to be alive another day with my family."

He was just two weeks into the semester when he was wounded. He knew he had to finish what he started. He credits his wife and SAPD.

"Persistence, I knew that I wanted to finish, and nothing was going to stop that," he said.

He was among nearly 1,300 UIW graduates who have completed more than 45,000 hours of service in the community.

"I am grateful to be here," he said. "I am grateful to be alive, and to be one degree smarter than I was before."

He earned a Bachelor's in Administration and plans to use that while at SAPD.